Liquefied natural gas (LNG)

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to about -260°F for shipment and/or storage as a liquid. The volume of the liquid is about 600 times smaller than in its gaseous form. In this compact form, natural gas can be shipped in special tankers to receiving terminals in the United States and other importing countries. At these terminals, the LNG is returned to a gaseous form and transported by pipeline to distribution companies, industrial consumers, and power plants.

Liquefying natural gas provides a means of moving it long distances where pipeline transport is not feasible, allowing access to natural gas from regions with vast production potential that are too distant from end-use markets to be connected by pipeline.

In 2011, LNG imports contributed about 1% of total natural gas consumption. LNG imports from Egypt, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, and Yemen contributed about 90% of total LNG imports.

Even though the United States is primarily an importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), it is also an exporter. Sometimes LNG originally imported to the United States is "re-exported" to new destinations where prices are higher.